Electric regulator.



G. S. .NEELEY.

ELECTRIC REGULATOR.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 9. 9m.

Patented Oct. 26, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

W7 [avast fray #[fiK ,u-n co., \VASHIN ccccccc c.

- Patentd Oct. 26, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

wr/Kasszo.

. UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. enonen srnivcn-R NEELEY, o r sr. Louis,MISSOURI, AssIGnon, BY'MESNE essren- MENTS, T GENERAL ELEQ'IRIC oomrnnnnCORPORATION or New YORK.

ELECTRIC REGULATOR.

ioness.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patentd Oct. 26, 1915.

Application filed September 9, 1910. Serial No. 581,295.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORG SPENCER NEE- LEY, a citizenof the UnitedStates, residing at St. Louis, Missouri, haveinvented a cer-' tain newand useful Improvement in Electric Regulators, of which the follo'wingisa full, clear, and exact description, such as will enable others skilledin the art to which it appertains to make and use the same,-refv erencebeing had to theaccompanying drawings, forming part ofthisspecification, in which 1 Figure 1 is a' diagrammatic viewillustrating my improved system adapted to be used for general lightingor power purposes, as well as for the charging of storage batteries, orboth- Fig. 2 is a modification of the; system shown in Fig. 1, in which.the connections of one of the controlling circuits are reversed. Fig. 3is a modification showing an additional controlling circuit for avoltage regulator.

v This invention relates to anew and useful improvement in automaticregulators for direct current dynamos, and is adapted for use whetherthe dynamos supply electricity for light or power, or for the purpose ofcharging storage batteries.

My invention relates especially to a means forcharging of storagebattery systems in connection with railwaycar lighting devices where thegenerator is driven from a variable'source of speed, such as the caraxle will afford.

My present ini' ention is an improvement over. my automatic regulatordescribed in Patent No. 838,802, dated December 18, 1906,

to which patent reference is made for any details of construction notspecifically set 4o forth in this specification. In that patent I havedisclosed an automatic regulator for the purpose of increasing the E. M.F. of the charging dynamo to correspond with the counter E. M. F. of thebatteries to be charged. In order to. do this it was neces- Qsary toprovide two'electro-magnets having each two windings, one Winding on onemagnet energized by the voltage or E. M. F. of the charging dynamo, andtheother winding energized by the field current of the dynamo, while thesecond magnet is controlled by two windings, one energized by thecurrent output of the generator, and the second being connectedin shuntwith the storage batteries. In my present device do away with one of theelectro-magnets used in my old construction and accomplish the sameresult with the use of a much more simple and eflicient apparatus.

,ings. The energizing of which third winding isderived from the mainworking current output to the system. It should be particularly notedthat the tendency of the dynamo under the influence of this latter typeof regulating device is to generate a still higher E. M. F. with eachincrease of current output'to the system, or in other words the actionof this third winding pro-.

duces the same effect on the E. M. F. 1 of the system as does the seriesor compound windings on the compound wound direct current dynamo. 0

In the operation of train lighting systems which embody an axle-drivendynamo, which suppl es current to a set of storage batteries,

as well as a series of lamps, I have found that the reserve ornon-compounding action is the most desirable for the reason that as thestorage battery is employed to supply energy to .the translating devicesor lamps during the intervals that the car is not in motion, or is belowthe proper speed to produce a slightly higher E. M. F. than thebatteries, there are times when the'batteries become nearly exhausted ofall stored energy owing to the conditions of railroad service, andcombinations of circumstances, as where a train is compelled to remaininactive for a period sufiicient to exhaust the battery. When thebatteries have run down or'become depleted from a condition like this,it is extremely undesirable to put them on charge, without some means ofautomatically limiting the flow of current into the batteries, as it isa well known fact that the tendency of the batteries is, to absorb anabnormal current flow at the beginning of the charge.

In using my former regulator the greater the ampere flow of current tothe batteries the greater the action of this current is to keep onincreasing the E. M. F. of the generator, and consequently this actionaggravates conditions by increasing the current flow into the exhaustedbatteries at the very instant that a check is needed upon the flow.There have been instances in actual practice where this condition was soaggravated that the field coils and armature windings of the generatorhave been burnt out due solely to the tendency of this form of regulatorto short circuit the field resistance and to keep it in such conditionas long as the generated E. M. F. was below the normal pre-determinedvalue. In my present system I propose to reverse this action and therebygive to the batteries what is known in the art as a. taper charge 2'.0., when the energy of the batteries is nearly exhausted, and they areput on charge the current flowing into the batteries will have anautomatic reaction on the E. M. F. of the charging dynamo to decreaseits voltage as the ampere flow of current into the batteries isincreased, and again to increase the voltage or E. M. F. of thegenerator when the ampere current tapers down as the batteries neartheir full charge. For example, in a 32 volt system a thoroughlydepleted battery will absorb a current How of, say 10 amperes at 32volts E. M. F. when the charging process first begins. As the chargingproceeds the ampere flow gradually tapers downward while the E. M. F.must taper upward if the batteries are expected to be fully charged.

It will readily suggest itself to those skilled in the art that myregulator is adaptable to any range of voltage and currents to suit theconditions under which it is desirable to operate.

Referring to Fig. 1, 1 indicates the charging dynamo or generator, 2 isa wire connected with the positive brush of the dynamo and coiled aroundthe two le s oi the electro magnet 8 continuing at 4 to be attached tothe movable contact 5 of the regulator, which bears against a fixedcontact point 6 under the influence of a spring 16. This circuit iscontinued by awire connection 7 from the fixed contact 6 through thefield coil 8 of the dynamo, back to the negative brush. The two wireconnections l and 7 are interconnected through a fixed resistance 9.

A second controlling circuit is formed by wires 10 connected across themains 11 and 12, extending from the brushes of the generator or dynamo,said circuit including coils also wound around the two cores of theelectro-magnet 3 to aid the coils in the circuit 2, t and 7 Across themains 11 and 12 are connected the storage batteries 13 in series, andthe translating devices or lamps 1 1 in parallel. A fixed resistance 15is placed in circuit with the main 12. A third controlling circuit isformed by wires 16 connected on one side of the resistance 15 toarheostat 17, and through wire 18 coiled around the two cores of themagnet 3 and by wire 19 to the opposite side of the resistance 15 on themain 12. The coils included in this third circuit aid those in the twopreceding circuits.

The regulator with. its movable contact member controlled by theelectroinagnet and spring 16 is a device whose operation is well. known,and need not be further described except to state that it controls thevoltage of the generator by varying the elfeet of the resistance in thefield circuit.

The diil'erence between my improved system illustrated in Fig. 1, andthat shown in Fig. 3 of my patent consists in reversing the effect ofthe coil in the current output controlling circuit 16, 18 and 19 so thatall three controlling circuits coiled around the electro-magnet producea flux in the same direction rather than as in my patent heretot'orementioned, where the flux oi the line current circuit opposes that inthe other two. The result is that with my regulator as shown in thisfigure, and the batteries 13 exhausted or run down, they will in thiscondition absorb a current flow of, say -10 aniperes at a voltage of 32.The action of so large a. current How is to cause a correspondingenergizin oi the magnet 3, which proportionately causes the resistance 9to be more effective in the field circuit during this interval of heavycurrent How, and thereby automatically retains the voltage of thegenerator 1 at the minimum (32 volts) while the batteries are takingtheir maximum current. This effect is brought about by the increasedtime of separation of the contact points 5 and G of the regulator. Asthe batteries 13 approach their full charge their counter E. M. F.rises, which has a natural tendency to reduce the current flow that theywill absorb, to say 20 amperes. It will be noted, therefore, that whilethe ampere flow of current has tapered down from so ainperes to 20amperes, this has caused a corresponding dimii'nition oi? the energy ofthe magnet 3, decreasing its attraction on the vibrating arm carryingmovable contact 5, and this latter member under the control of thespring 16 is brought into more sustained contact with. the fixed.contact 6. This renders less effective the resistance 9, operatingthereby to increase the field current. In Fig. 2, I have illustrated aslight modification of the system shown in Fig. 1, and have reversed theconnections of the circuit 10 to the mains 11, 12. lVith thisarrangement, the action of the coil responsive to the voltage of thedynamo 1 is reversed and op poses the action of the coil responsive tothe current output and that carrying the field current. These lattercoils, however, act accumulatively, as in Figs. 1 and 3.

The regulation with this arrangement is carried out in the same manner,and only the sensitiveness of the regulating action is affected.

When it is desired to maintain a practically constant voltage on thatpart of the system which supplies the lighting load while the rate ofcurrent'l'low and voltage may be varied'to suit the conditions of thatpart of the system to which. the batteries are connected I prefer to usethe construction of parts shown in Fig. 3. In this figure there are fourcircuits controlling the electromagnet 3, being wound thereupon. Threeof these circuits are the same as disclosed in Fig. 1, e. a circuit inseries with the field of the charging dynamo, a second circuit connectedacross the brush. terminals of the dynamo, and a third circuit connectedin shunt relation to a resistance in one of the mains so that it isenergized by the current output. In this latter construction 1 introducea fourth circuit similar to the last named circuit, but connected to thema1n-12 ,on either side of a fixed resistance 20, in

series with the main 12 between the connections to the batteries 13, andto the trans-.

lating devices or lamps 14:. This circuit compr1ses a wlre 21 connectedto the main 12 on one side of the resistance 20 being coiled around thecore pieces, of the electromagnet 3 and continuing through the wire 22to a point on the opposite side of the resistance 20 connected to themain 12. In explaining the action of this fourth winding in the system,suppose that the generator 1 is supplying a current to the batteries 13,of 4:0 amperes at 32 volts E. M. F. Ifnow the lamp load 14 is added itwill correspond.- ingly increase the demand for current upon thegenerator 1 above a0 amperes. This action would,of course, produce aproportion ate drop in the E. M. F. below 32 volts. The fourth winding21 and 22 is'desired to prevent this diminution of voltage on the systemdue to the adding or subtracting of the lamp load 14: while thebatteries are below their normal charge.

When the lamp load 1 1 is added to the system a proportional current isshunted around the resistance 20, thereby producing a flux in the magnet3 opposing that set up by the currents that are flowing in the otherthree controlling circuits wound on the magnet Thisaction proportionallydiminishes the action of the magnet 3 which allows the spring 16 tocause the-vibratingarm carrying'the movable contact 5 to vibrate incloser proximity to the fixed contact 6, and thereby reduces the actionof the resistance 9 in the field circuit of the generator, which causesthe field current to in: crease without affecting the magnet 3. Thisadditional field current causes the generator to develop an additionalampere current which supplies the added lamp load without appreciablyaffecting the voltage of the general system. When the lamp load 1 1 isWithdrawn the demagnetizingeffect of the current in the circuit 21 and22 is at the same instant withdrawn. The remaining three circuits coiledon the electro-magnet 3 therefore becomes more effective, which resultsin its causing the movable contact 5 to vibrate away from the fixedcontact 6 to an increased extent increasing the resistance between thesepoints, and thereby making more effective the resistance 9 in the fieldcircuit.

It is obvious to those skilled in the art that the entire current takenby the batteries or the lamp load might be passed around a 601101113116magnet 3, but 1t 1s preferred to use constant reslstances 15 and 20 1norder that small wires may be used in the circuits 1 which are woundaround the electromagnet 3.

When the final limit of lowtrain speed is reached at which the generatorwill'maintain sufficient E. M. F. to counteracta reverse or dischargingflow of current from the batteries it will be automatically cut out ofcircuit during such intervals, and reconnected again when the generatorE'. M. F. has reached a proper value by means of any well knownautomatic low voltage cut-out as shown in Fig. 1.

Particular attention is called to the effect betweenv two relativelyconstant resistances 5 of equal shunting proportions or resistances, z'.6., the voltage drop across the resistances 15 and 20 are the same onequal loads. Attention is called to the fact that thesetwo resistances15 and 20 are so arranged that they have opposite efiects on theultimate magnetization of themagnet 3, because they shunt currents inopposite directions through the circuits 16, 18 and 19, and again 21 and22. It will also be noticed that,

owing to the arrangements of these connections, none of the currentthat-is absorbed by the batteries 13, passe's'through the resistancev20, while the total current out-put must pass through the resistance 15.The resistance 15 hasa decreasing effect on the generated E. M. F. inproportion to the current flowing through it under predeter-'IDlHGClllIDlt-S, which 1n thls-case for illustratlve purposes, 1s 10volts, or a maximum of 42 and a minimum of 32 volts. The effeet of theresistance 20 is solely to counteract the effect on the regulator magnet23, of the current passing through the other resistance 15, on its wayto the lamps or t'anslating devices 14. With these points understood Iwill now briefiy explain the action of the resistances 15 and 20.

The initial adjustment of the regulated E. M. F. across the mains 11 and12, is determined at a maximum of 42 bolts by adjustment of the spring16. The automatic features of my new device are now such that if thebatteries 13 be thrown on the system at a charging rate of say, 20amperes, the immediate effect is such that the resistance 15 will shunta current proportional to the 20 amperes charging current, which is sodesigned in this instance, to instantly cause the regulated E. M. F.across the mains 11 and 12 to drop down proportionately to 37 volts,instead of 12 as at the original adjustment.

The proportions are such that had the maximum charging rate been l0amperes, instead of 20, the effect on the regulated ELM. F. would havebeen to lower it to the minimum of 32 volts.

With the battery charging current rate at 20 amperes and the regulatedE. M. F. at 37 volts, and there is added 20 amperes more load, by meansof the lamps 14, the effect of this 20 amperes is such that the firsteffect in passing the resistance 15, on the regulator magnet 3, isentirely nullified in its passage through the second resistance 20.Hence in practice it is found that the original 37 volts is not in theleast disturbed by the added 20 amperes lamp load, owing to the equaland opposing effects of the derived currents flowing in their respectivecoils on the magnet 3, and forming shunt circuits around the resistances15 and 20. Thus it will be noticed that any current passing theresistance 20, serves to counteract an equal effect of the same currentflow in the resistance 15.

The paramount object of my new device is to produce a simple regulator,whereby the internal condition of the batteries, on which their chargingrate entirely depends at any given E. M. F., will have absolute and aproportional control over the generated E. M. F., while any added loadsuch as, lamps or transplanting devices shal lnot affeet the generatedE. M. F. beyond the point automatically set by the charging rate of thebatteries. These points of advantage are all accomplished over my formerPatent No. 838,802, by the new and novel arrangement of the resistances15 and 20 and the change in the direction of current flow of that partof the current output which is supplied to the batteries as a chargingcurrent. This new arrangement, of course, calls for a fourth windingupon my new device.

I do not wish to limit this invention to the specific mechanismdisclosed and wired as illustrated. The scope of my invention isindicated in the accompanying claims.

I claim:

1. A system of electrical distribution, comprising a dynamo, storagebatteries and current consuming devices connected across the mains ofthe dynamo, an electro-magnet having a plurality of windings, one beingenergized by the field current of the generator, a second by the voltageof the generator, at third energized in proportion to the total currentoutput said winding acting accumulatively with the first two windings,and a means for varying the resistance in the field circuit of thegenerator and controlled by said electro-magnet.

2. A system of electrical distribution com prising a generator and mainsextending therefrom, storage batteries and translating devices connectedin multiple with the said mains, and an automatic regulator forregulating the field density of the generator, said regulator includingan electromagnet having four independent windings, one of said windingsbeing in circuit with the field winding of the generator, the secondwinding being connected in circuit across the brushes of the saidgenerator, the third winding being adapted to receive a current inproportion to the total current furnished to the said storage batteriesand translating devices, said three windings being arranged to actaccumulatively, the fourth winding on said magnet being adapted toreceive a current proportional to that furnished to the translatingdevices, said fourth winding being arranged to act oppositely withrespect to the currents in the first three mentioned windings.

3. A system of electrical distribution comprising a dynamo, storagebatteries and translating devices connected across the mains of thedynamo, an electro-magnet, a plurality of windings upon said magnet, onewinding being energized by the field current of the dynamo, a second bythe voltage of the dynamo, a third by a current proportional to thegenerator output, and a fourth by a current proportional to thatsupplied to the translating devices, said latter current flowing in areverse direction to that in the first three windings, and a resistanceadapted to be thrown in series with the field winding of the dynamo bysaid magnet.

l. A system of electrical distribution comprising a dynamo, storagebatteries and translating devices connected across the mains of thedynamo, an electromagnet, a plurality of windings upon said magnet,

one winding being energized by the field current of the dynamo, a secondby the voltage of the dynamo, a third by a current proportional to vthegenerator output, said first and third windings acting accumulatively,and a resistance adapted to be" thrown in series with the field Windingof the dynamo by said magnet.

I 5. A system of electrical'distribution comprising a dynamo, storagebatteries and translating devices connected across the mains thereof, anelectro-magnet, a plurality of windings on said magnet, one beingenergized by. the field current of the dynamo, a second by the Voltageof the dynamo, a resistance in series between the Copies of this patentmay be obtainedifor dynamo and the current consuming devices,

and a third winding in series around the reslstance, the currents inthesaid wlndlngs on the magnet belng'ln the same dlrectlon to haveaccumulative eflfect, and a resistance adapted to be placed in serieswith the field GEORGE SPENCER NEELEY.

Witnesses:

F. R. CORNWALL B. L. CROWLEY.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. a

